Chapter 37: THIRTY SEVEN

CELESTIA

An hour later, I changed out of the micro dress, grabbed a sandwich while Lila bombarded me with a thousand questions. Mainly, she wanted to know if I was in one piece after my encounter with Raffaele. I assured her in words, gestures, and laughs, but the sick worry never left her face.

“Listen, I will be gone for some time,” I informed her, chewing on the last bite of the sandwich she prepared for me and swipe the napkin over the mouth. “I promise I will tell you everything in detail. Okay?”

“Okay,” Lila nodded slowly. “But where is he taking you?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t say, and I didn’t push.” Knowing him, he would have kept me guessing even when I would have asked.

“Be careful,” she cautioned. “And don’t do anything stupid.”

I smirked. “I will try.”

I cruised outside the giant entrance door where Raffaele was holding a conversation with one of the guards. My steps slowed on its own, taking in his frame in another light altogether.

Raffaele had already slipped out of his earlier garments and now donned an azure blue shirt that hugged every bit of his chiseled torso, and paired with charcoal grey slacks. The top two buttons were left open, allowing a small glimpse of his naked chest while the cuffs were rolled up.

This man was stitched with every element of good looks and intoxicating power threaded into his features. And I loathed myself for a few seconds how I shamelessly admitted the fondness of his appearance. Perhaps, it was merely primal for the gender to be attracted to the opposite. An artwork of biology, I tried to convince myself. Because there was no denying that Raffaele Roselli was enticing.

Within a short span of time, I have come across him so many times in so many different circumstances, and in every encounter, I have discovered something about him.

He was like an untamed hunter. He would only reveal the sheathed claws and dark viciousness when he intended too and then slip back into the cultured and urbane sophistication.

And I was yet to know what outcome it would bring to my present and impending future that lay in his hands right now.

As if stuck by telepathy, his sought mine squinted against harsh Vegas sun, and I had to force myself to blink and smile at his way. In a few long strides, he swallowed the distance between us.

“Did you eat?” he asked. When I nodded, it still didn’t convince him. “Let me rephrase: did you eat enough not to faint on me again?”

I bristled slightly at his condescension and frowned. “Do you really have to remind me of that multiple times in a day?”

His fuller lips stretched to a semblance of a smile. Raffaele was always careful of his manners around the staff and guards, comporting himself in an aura of authority that suited his position. Even around his brother, he was far too formal for a man who was close to his sibling (if Lila’s information was accurate enough).

“Let’s go.” He gestured with his hand for me to follow as I tailed.

“Umm…are we going to that office building?” I pried with a leading question.

“Yes,” he replied. “How good are you with output costing?”

I stopped dead in my tracks. Raffaele, too, paused to look over his shoulders. “What happened?” he asked, coming beside me.

“Are you serious?” I gaped.

“Serious about what?”

“That you are going to let me do the costing sheet?” I was not a workaholic, but I could really put my mind to ease with some work. And him letting me do that was huge.

He let loose a light shrug. “I have a guy for that Adam, but his wife recently underwent a surgery. So he is on leave. And since I can’t let your evil mind wander around, it is better to put you to some use.”

Way to kill my enthusiasm.

My eyes rolled heavenward as I ignored him and resumed walking. “You know, I got really excited for a minute there until you put it that way.”

“Your spirits will dampen further if you see the pile of work Adam left. I had half a mind to hire someone intermediately. But since you were so gracious, I thought—why the hell not?”

“How generous!” I muttered under my breath as we arrived at the building and strode through the bland interiors until we stepped into the office.

RAFFAELE

What the hell was wrong with me?

Before I could even think this through, I had already given her my word. When I asked her to accompany me without clarifying, I expected her to argue or pose some kind of questions. But she didn’t. She agreed in a heartbeat, and I understood how badly cloistered she was in here.

Celestia has given a glimpse of how she has spent most of her entire life in seclusion, and I can only imagine the ache she went through. What angered me was that she trusted her mother to keep her safe.

When Amadeo warned me of Celestia, stating that she was well truly collateral damage, I didn’t wholly trust him. But now, listening to her account, I was more than convinced that Kyla has been playing her. Under the guise of pretense and safety net, she kept Celestia far away from the business and transactions because they were all a bunch of lies and deceits.

I wonder how much Celestia knew of her mother and the illegal business deals.

That brought me to focus on the glittering happiness on her face, glowing brighter than a licking flame.

I didn’t have the heart to shove her to an unwanted corner and disregard her presence. Truthfully, it was impossible to ignore her presence when she practically gravitates everything around her.

I have never seen Lila chattering to her heart’s content.

I have never seen my brother enjoying wine and holding a conversation with a girl.

Hell, I have never seen myself being so affected by anyone’s presence as much as hers.

Every emotion seemed to be heightened around her, like she an addictive elixir. A potent drug that could both be a medicine and a poison depend upon the person who took it.

I was still in two minds to take her to the office when I absently directed the head of security on the newly set cameras and amped up protection. And the moment my eyes fell on her, I couldn’t bear to leave her alone.

I forfeited all the other thoughts and orbited around her presence as we set into the office space. Last time Celestia visited, she was wrung out in fear and apprehension, as against today when she was beaming with enthusiasm. Somewhat, it pleased me.

“Sit,” I instructed, pointing at the couch and rounded the polish table to extract a laptop from the cabinet. Claiming the seat next of hers, I lifted the lid.

“That’s the blue folder for the distributors. James has already stored all the data and emails.” I navigated to another window and opened the Sheets. “That’s where you have to make the credit split.”

She grabbed the device from mine and arranged it on her lap, shooing me away with her tiny hands. “I know how to make credit splits, genius.”

“Be my guest,” I muttered with a smile and wandered off to my desk.

Even though I pulled out my scheduled work, half my mind was locked on her. Every flinch, every movement, and every casual way, she bit on her plump lips. Fuck, I was fast becoming a goner.

I have had the pleasure and company of women ten times titillating than her, with skimpiest clothes you could wear and sometimes even naked—and here I was—blown over by the grace and charm of Celestia.

Three hours into work, we lunched together. At the same time, she familiarized me with her bizarre habit of eating greens first and then meat in the salad.

“What are you doing?” I asked while Celestia, with utmost concentration, separated the olives in a plate.

“Umm…the olives. These are cut too small, so I would eat with the chicken,” she replied absently.

Christ! “Did anyone ever tell you that you are a picky eater?”

Her head whipped up, and I saw a small pout. “I am not picky. I am just an organized eater.”

“I don’ think there’s any such term as ‘organized eater’.”

“Well, now it is.” She flashed a smile as sweet as saccharine. Laughing, I went back eating.

Time flew away like pixie dust in the air, and dusk chased away the last remnant sun rays. The stars blanketed the evening sky of Vegas but nothing compared to the glimmering man-made twinkles of this sin city.

I looked at Celestia when she wasn’t aware and noted how infinitely lost and happy in the work she seemed. The hypnosis snapped like a twig beneath a heavy foot when a knock interrupted us.

With a sigh, I allowed whoever was on the other side of the door. Ray, one of the guards, walked in. His eyes momentarily flitted to her but quickly averted away.

“What is it, Ray?” I demanded.

“Sir, I have a visitor waiting for you in the lobby. Miss Esme insists that she has been requested.”

Shit. I called the club last evening, requesting a session with her before Kyla had called and ruined everything else. Lately, everything else has been so unbalanced, and out of control, I needed to restrain myself better.

“Yes, have her situated in one of the rooms upstairs. I will join her in a while,” I instructed.

Turning to Celestia, whose brown eyes were already hooked, I rose from my place. “Wrap up. You are going back.”

Surprise and disappointment twined into her features. “Why? You can take your meeting. I have no problem working here alone.”

Oh, no, no. There’s no way Celestia stays inside the building when I am spanking or fucking or doing both. She is the very reason I spiral out of control.

“No,” I said decisively, grabbing the laptop away from her lap. “You are going back to the villa and now.”

How is the story so far? Any suggestions/request?